K-Fry's Follies: Ummm...where should the hair be growing?!

Day Seven: Cleveland, Ohio, Chicago 342.5 miles

Helllloooo Cleveland! Thanks to my friend Sarah I had a great place to stay only a few days before she was about to move out of her house.

We had a great and super inexpensive breakfast at this local place, and it was on the way here that I heard one of the best radio spots of all time. Browns receiver Braylon Edwards has just been traded to the Jets, and as the trade was going down Edwards chose to take some parting shots at the already beleaguered sports fans of Cleveland. In response one of the local stations created a radio spot that was simply fantastic. I can't seem to find it on the Web but basically the gist was a giant "Screw You" to Edwards and his mom. But my favorite part was when the announcer tells Edward to grown some hair where it counts and to take him mom and himself out of Cleveland to New York. It just seemed so Cleveland!

From Cleveland I drove through Ohio toward Indiana.

I am facing West

I must be in the Midwest, lots and lots of corn...

and other crops...

and water towers, and silos...

and it's very very flat.

While driving along the Ohio Pike I came across a sign that called my name...The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library, yes I am aware this blog is outing my historical geekiness.

Rutherford B. Hayes was the 19th President of the United States. He was a professional politician who had risen to power in Ohio due to his influence and good friends that would eventually become known as the Ohio Gang. During the election of 1876 he lost the popular vote but won by one electoral vote. The Democrats and Tilden, his opponent, tried to oppose his election but a backroom compromise allowed Hayes to be president and Reconstruction was ended in the South, allowing the Jim Crow South to expand.

This is the house Hayes and his wife Lucy retired to after his time in DC. The family lived here in Spiegel Grove in Fremont Ohio with their four children. Lucy was the first first lady to use the term first lady, as well as the first first lady to achieve her college degree!

They have all kinds of his tings here...including his pencil sharpener.

This is the 19th century version of the photo booth. When famous people came to visit the President he would have them touch one of the trees in his grove - I know how that sounds - and then he would put up a plaque. This is one of the ones closest to the driveway.

These are the gates to the Library and were a gift from the American people. I want the American People to give me something - preferably something I can spend! :)

Old Fremont - it is really just a small town with old homes.

Fremont

This is a little bit of a scary laundry.

Indiana = Midwest (see above)

Cool Old Bridge - glad not to drive on it

As a student at Boston College I had to stop and check out enemy territory, and my cousin is a student here.

It was very nice.

The Catholic University?

It had the biggest apparel section of any college bookstore I have ever seen!

But of course the most important spot on campus.

And then I was in Illinois. Poor Cubs fans - the billboard says it all!

This was the drive through McDonalds on a BRIDGE into the city of Chicago! You couldn't go in, it was just a drive through in the middle of the road!!! I wonder where Illinois ranks on the fat list of America?

Chicago!!!

My Brother's Girlfriend's Sister Alysia was a rock star and opened her outstanding Chicago apt (silverfish and all!) to this wayward traveler. We had a fun evening hanging out and she took me for Chicago ice cream (and we all know how much I have been loving the ice cream on this trip!)